Zion National Park

9/19/2017

We spent a week at Zion NP.  The first 3 nights we stayed at a BLM camp (free) 15 miles from the south entrance.

BLM campsite.

On the second day we learned the procedure for getting one of the "first come first serve" site at the South Campground in the park.  They start assigning sites at 7 am so we arrived at 6:30, in the dark, and were the 21st in line.

7 am, in line for a campsite.

At 10:30 we got a site, then we had to drive back to the BLM camp to retrieve the camper.  We weren't going to drag the camper to the park until we were SURE we'd get a site.  The whole procedure took a very long morning before we were settled and ready for lunch.  After hiking the first 2 days we were going to take the day off anyway.

Campsite in Zion, with "The Watchman" in the background

The Watchman at sunset from campsite.

All the effort to get a campsite "IN" the part was worth it.  Everything is within walking distance including a couple of trail heads.  The shuttle system worked great.  We liked it better than driving to a location in the park and searching for a parking place.  The South Campground has no hookups (dry camping)  so we were very conservative with our resources.  All totaled we were a week "off grid".

Now that we know the process for getting a campsite in Zion, they're changing it next March.

We talked to a camp host who said the reservation
can be made no more than 2 weeks in advance.

Zion is one of those places where you just can't stop taking pictures.  Here's a FEW of ours...

First morning, before we knew where to go
we found this "ad hock" trail at a turnout.

Then...

... and now.

Sun rising over the cliffs.

Joan, blending in, on the
Kayenta Trail.

Looking down canyon from the Kayenta Trail.

View up canyon from the Watchman Trail on
a cloudy afternoon.

Late afternoon from Weeping Rock.

Court of the Patriarchs, late afternoon.

Morning walk, up canyon on the Pa'rus Trail.

Virgin River from Pa'rus Trail

Trail along Virgin river, looking down canyon.

Coming next, A couple of nights with electricity, WAHOO!